Author: Lauren Gideon

an overhead shot of a table with pumpkins, fall leaves, and a sign that says "be thankful always"

Thankful to Have Homeschooling Resources

Posted on | by Lauren Gideon

Over this Thanksgiving holiday, have you been blessed by spending more time with family? Have you considered homeschooling but are at a loss for how to get started? Do you have friends that don’t want to send their children back to school? Perhaps these resources could help you get started:

Maybe you want facts and statistics? Check out the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI). You can also catch Dr. Brian D. Ray, President of NHERI, on Refining Rhetoric, a podcast hosted by Robert Bortins, CEO of Classical Conversations.

Patriotic holidays. The USA are celebrating 4th of July or Memorial Day. American flag and hands close up.

Five Ways To Lose Your Homeschool Freedoms

Posted on | by Lauren Gideon
Johanna Ireland, Idaho Homeschooling Parent
Homeschool Freedom, November 15, 2021

“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.” – Edward Abbey

In this short blog, first published by Homeschool Freedom, Johanna Ireland succinctly gives us five ways to lose our homeschool freedoms as well as practical and actionable solutions. Topics include:

  • Believing the myth that parents aren’t qualified to homeschool
  • Relying on news media to tell the story of homeschooling
  • Making room in your budget for state funding
  • Losing your legislator’s contact information
  • Ignoring elections

Don’t fall for these traps!

the American flag blowing in the wind at sunset

Will Privatized Education Lead to More Freedom?

Posted on | by Lauren Gideon

Education policy reform is sweeping our nation. Debates on vouchers, Educational Savings Plans, and other government-funded enticements abound. Perhaps your state has recently passed such legislation, or maybe it’s on the docket for the upcoming session?

Kevin Novak, a Texas and North Virginia attorney and president of Deconstructing the Coliseum, not only disagrees with voucher and tax credit systems but also advocates the abolishment of government schools. In his op-ed, “The Best Education Policy is No Education Policy,” he writes,

“To be clear, thought freedom does not comport with vouchers, tax credits or any other post-tax mechanism. You cannot shackle a horse and then complain that it does not run like a thoroughbred. We want freedom — of the pre-tax variety. We do not want bureaucrats putting hurdles between our money and our choices.”

He further explains his rationale for the abolition of government schools:

“Why do I assert that civil government schools must be abolished? Because God never gave the civil government the right to use force and coercion to advance thought … If you are repulsed by the civil government mandating that your humanistic neighbor attend church, why are you not repulsed by your humanistic neighbor mandating that your child be exposed to his humanistic lies?”

Novak offers ideas and other possible solutions. You can read the entire op-ed here in The Western Journal.

an old microphone, closeup

Charlie Kirk Speaks at a Classical Conversations Event

Posted on | by Lauren Gideon

Check out the latest episode from The Charlie Kirk Show, “Is ‘North’ Just an Opinion? LIVE from Classical Conversations with Q+A.”

In this episode, Charlie Kirk “issues a full-throated defense of homeschooling, explaining why an America that gets farther away from God is an America that gets farther away from its Founders, its true commission and national mission statement.” He also clearly reveals how subjective truth brings destruction to individuals and society, adding how to “break the spell of apathy.”

American flag embracing the United States Constitution.

Monthly Constitutional Corner Hosted by Intercessors for America

Posted on | by Lauren Gideon

Constitutional Corner, a new webcast by Intercessors for America, has premiered on Rumble:

Have you wanted to know more about our nation’s founding documents? Learn the ways that God’s fingerprints are all over our nation’s founding? Join Dave Kubal [President and CEO of Intercessors for America] and IFA Board Member [and former Liberty Law Professor] Cynthia Dunbar for Constitutional Corner, a learning and prayer opportunity that will answer these questions and more.

You’ll be sure to enjoy and understand more about our national founding with this easy-to-understand format.

Listen to September’s Constitutional Corner here.

This webcast will be on the third Tuesday of the month at 12:15 pm ET.
Watch at IFApray.org, or call in at (667) 771-7909.

Silhouette of little girl holding christian cross in hands to praying for blessing from god at sunset background.

National Homeschool Day of Prayer

Posted on | by Lauren Gideon

On November 4, Homeschool Freedom will host the National Homeschool Day of Prayer. Don’t miss the wonderful Activity Guide for parents and students at the bottom of the page. Read more about this event below:

PLEASE JOIN US AND OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WE:

  • Give thanks for the freedom we have to homeschool our children,
  • Pray for homeschooling families in your own nation and around the world,
  • Pray for upcoming elections and the impact they may have on homeschooling,
  • Pray for your state’s homeschool organization and its leaders.
  • Pray for your elected officials to recognize that the education of children is the responsibility of the parents, not that of the nation,
  • Pray for your own family—your homeschooling journey and the Lord’s guidance as you take that journey, your relationships with one another, your own children and their futures, as well as seeking ways your family can minister to others,
  • Rejoice in God’s mercy and His faithfulness in all things.

(Obtained from https://homeschoolfreedom.com/prayer)

Check out Homeschool Freedom’s Facebook page for further prayer prompts as well as live guests on November 4.

the U.S. capitol building drawn on a dollar bill

Homeschool Capitol Days

Posted on | by Lauren Gideon

Classical Conversations families are raising a generation of leaders with Christ-centered worldviews. Let’s model for our students the importance of establishing open communication with elected officials. We can effect change!

A fun and easy way to get involved is through your state’s Capitol Day or Day with the Legislator. Ohio’s Capitol Day is October 18, 2022. Check here to see if your state’s Homeschool Capitol Day is published!

Here are some resources to get you started. Your state homeschool organization may have additional resources on its website. Also, here are a few tips to prepare for Homeschool Day at the Capitol and to meet your state legislators:

  1. Find your state’s House Representatives and Senators and their contact information.
  2. Begin, and continue, to pray for them.
  3. Make an appointment to meet with the legislator or their staffer. You do not need to identify yourself as a homeschooler or bring up homeschooling unless you want to. This will be a very brief appointment, so you must be prepared.
  4. On your visit. Introduce yourself and thank them for meeting with you. Know what you want and be clear about how the lawmaker can help. Don’t minimize the power of statistics and personal testimonies. Capitol Canary suggests that you leave them with a story they can tell at a dinner party.
  5. Follow up. Send a personal, hand-written note to thank them for the meeting. Show your appreciation and let them know you are praying for them, even if you have differing opinions.
  6. Extend an invitation to your legislator to visit your homeschooling event.          

Does School Choice Mean Education Freedom?

Posted on | by Lauren Gideon

By attorney and reporter Kevin Novak

Published August 27, 2022, in The Western Journal

Kevin Novak poses legitimate questions regarding school choice. He ponders lowered taxes, privatized education, and educational freedom in his op-ed piece published in The Western Journal on August 27, 2022.

“Consider these inquiries. If a legislature has the present ability to pass ‘school choice’ legislation, why does it not instead pass legislation that lowers taxes? In conjunction, if a legislature has the present ability to pass school choice legislation, and it being the case that many children have escaped the civil government school system, why does it not instead decrease spending on civil government education? And how would passing more school choice laws produce more financial freedom for people or more thought freedom for children?”

Read the full article here.

“The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website.”

the Refining Rhetoric podcast logo, with Robert Bortins, CEO of Classical Conversation, smiling the camera

Podcast: Words of Wisdom from a Homeschool Dad with Mike Donnelly

Posted on | by Lauren Gideon

In this episode, Robert and Mike Donnelly discuss a myriad of topics. Learn which segment of the population is the fastest growing among homeschoolers. Hear about the mission, origins, and future of HSLDA, what’s changing in the homeschool movement around the world, and how to stay involved in your child’s education as a homeschool father. Mike expounds on the importance of securing homeschool freedoms, giving examples from Russia and Germany. Mike Donnelly is HSLDA’s Director of Global Outreach and Senior Counsel to members in seven states. He is also an adjunct professor at Patrick Henry College, teaching constitutional law, and a published author and notable speaker, defending homeschooling and educational choice. Listen here and check your state’s current bills.

American flag embracing the United States Constitution.

235th Anniversary of the Constitution of the United States

Posted on | by Lauren Gideon

Every year we celebrate the birth of our nation on the Fourth of July. The date of the document that secured our freedom, however, is of equal importance. September 17, 2022, marks the 235th anniversary of the Constitution. Our friends at The Heritage Foundation have developed an amazing resource for your family to celebrate and contemplate our nation’s founding document: The Heritage Guide to the Constitution.

Rob Gordon, former Senior Advisor for Strategic Outreach at the Heritage Foundation, wrote the following message about this resource:

From the Preamble to the Twenty-Seventh Amendment, Heritage’s Guide to the Constitution is a comprehensive and authoritative analysis of every single clause in the Constitution.

What are some of the features of this excellent resource? It is:

Comprehensive—Heritage brought together one hundred of the nation’s best legal experts to create the only clause-by-clause examination of the Constitution and how they have been interpreted over the years.

Searchable—You will not need Google to search the Constitution anymore. Search the entire document and hundreds of essays by the nation’s leading legal experts on the historical context, meaning, and judicial interpretation of each clause.

User-friendly— This was designed with your mobile device in mind.

Teachable—You do not need to go to law school to learn the Constitution. Teach yourself the Constitution with the teaching companion to the guide. The teaching companion covers every clause in the Constitution, summarizes each essay in the guide, and includes exercises and quizzes to facilitate understanding of the Constitution’s main concepts. It is a great resource for homeschooling families or high school students working on reports and debates.

The Heritage Guide to the Constitution is for anyone who hungers for a deeper understanding of our first principles and how they influence today’s debates.